Procreating intention and its influencing factors in fertile women under the universal two-child policy in Yongkang

ObjectiveTo investigate the willingness of having a second child within three years and its influencing factors in fertile women under the universal two-child policy in Yongkang, which might provide a scientific basis for government decision-making.

MethodsFertile women in compliance with the universal two-child policy from 16 towns (street) in Yongkang were included and investigated by self-designed questionnaire.

ResultsA total of 4000 fertile women were investigated and received 3795 valid questionnaires, with an effective recovery rate of 94.88%.Those intending to procreate accounted for 47.67%, and those without the intention 28.38%, and those still under consideration 23.95%.The fertility intention was apparently related to the nature of household register, age, educational background and family income.Couples of agricultural household register were more willing to have the second child than couples of non-agricultural household register(χ²= 40.63, P < 0.01. The fertility intention of the women above 35 years old was obviously lowered. Among each age group < 25 years old, 25-35 years old, 36-40 years old, 41-45 years old, the proportion of fertility intention was 40.91%, 59.78%, 42.07%, 18.57% (χ²= 505.32, P < 0.01). The better educated a woman was, the more willing the women was to have a second child(χ²= 64.47, P < 0.01). The families with higher income were more willing to give birth to a second child(χ²=21.46, P < 0.01). Among various groups, there was the same preference for having a daughter in the second birth. The difference was statistically significant by χ² test(χ²=44.85, 122.23, 35.65, 36.02, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the willingness to have a second child proved to be also affected by other factors.Among the reasons for having a second child, the most important one was that the first kid would not be lonely anymore with brother or sister as playmate. Among the reasons for not willing to have a second child, the major reason was that the couples believed they had not sufficient energy and time to have a second child.

ConclusionAfter the implementation of the universal two-child policy, the number of births and elder pregnant women in the next three years will increase. Therefore, the medical and health departments must take effective measures to cope with the situation.